Experiencia en el uso de los protocolos Biomed-2 para el estudio de reordenamientos de TCR e inmunoglobulinas en proliferaciones linfoides en el Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Colombia / Experience with the BIOMED-2 standardized polymerase chain reaction protocol for immunoglobulin and T- cell receptor clonality analysis in the Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Colombia

Introducción. El consorcio europeo BIOMED-2 se creó para determinar si una población linfoide de difícil clasificación patológica es clonal. En Colombia, la implementación de estas pruebas comenzó en el 2015 en el Instituto Nacional de Cancerología E.S.E. (Bogotá). Objetivos. Determinar el comportamiento de las pruebas de reordenamiento clonal o clonalidad linfoide. y determinar las dificultades de su uso en nuestro medio verificando su adaptación local y los resultados en una serie retrospectiva de casos y consecutiva de proliferaciones linfoides sometidas a los protocolos BIOMED-2. Materiales y métodos. A partir de las historias clínicas, se recolectaron los datos clínicos e histológicos y los resultados de los análisis de los reordenamientos en todos los casos de proliferaciones linfoides sometidas a los protocolos BIOMED-2, entre febrero de 2015 y mayo de 2019. Resultados. Se hallaron 132 casos, de los cuales 47 se clasificaron mediante los protocolos de Biomed-2 como hiperplasias linfoides reactivas, 62 como linfomas T, 19 como linfomas B y 3 como neoplasias linfoides de linaje no establecido. Solo en un caso falló la extracción de ADN. Según estos resultados, la mayor dificultad diagnóstica para el patólogo fue el análisis de los infiltrados linfoides T, la mayoría (44) de los cuales correspondía a lesiones cutáneas. Conclusiones. Las pruebas de clonalidad pueden usarse en tejidos de diversa calidad en nuestro medio como ayuda en el diagnóstico de proliferaciones linfoides de difícil clasificación. Es importante hacerlas e interpretarlas de manera multidisciplinaria y considerar cada caso por separado.

Introduction: The European BIOMED-2 consortium was created to evaluate clonality in lymphoproliferations that are difficult to diagnose. In Colombia, the implementation of these tests began in 2015 at the Instituto Nacional de Cancerología E.S.E., Bogotá. Objectives: To determine the behavior of the rearrangement tests for lymphoid clonality and the difficulties of its implementation in our field through a series of retrospective and consecutive cases of lymphoid proliferation subjected to the BIOMED-2 protocols. Materials and methods: Clinical and histological data and the results of the rearrangement analysis of all cases of lymphoid proliferation subjected to the BIOMED-2 protocols between February 2015 and May 2019 were collected from clinical histories. Results: We recovered 132 samples from which 47 corresponded to reactive lymphoid hyperplasias, 62 to T lymphomas, 19 to B lymphomas, and three to lymphoid neoplasms of unestablished lineage. Only in one case did DNA extraction fail. According to these results, the greatest diagnostic difficulty for the pathologist was the analysis of T lymphoid infiltrates, most of which (44) were skin lesions. Conclusions: Clonality tests can be used in tissues of different quality to help in the diagnosis of lymphoid proliferations that are difficult to classify. It is important to implement and interpret them in an interdisciplinary way considering each case separately.

Enfermedad residual medible mediante reordenamientos de inmunoglobulinas y receptores de linfocitos-T / Measurable residual disease by rearrangements of immunoglobulins and T-lymphocyte receptors

Resumen Las leucemias agudas constituyen la neoplasia más frecuente en pacientes pediátricos. Actualmente, el 80% de los niños con leucemia linfoblástica aguda (LLA) logran curarse con quimioterapia con vencional pero el 20% de los mismos presentarán una reaparición de la enfermedad. La enfermedad residual medible (ERM) ha sido descripta como un importante factor pronóstico, que permite evaluar la respuesta de los pacientes al tratamiento. Una de las técnicas más sensibles par a estudiar ERM es la cuantificación de reordena mientos génicos de inmunoglobulinas (Ig) y receptores de linfocitos-T (TCR). Los objetivos del presente trabajo fueron describir los reordenamientos detectados de Ig/TCR, evaluar el efecto de la ERM en la supervivencia de niños con LLA y comparar la ERM por Ig/TCR con la cuantificada mediante citometría de flujo multiparamétrica (CFM). Del total de 455 pacientes estudiados, en el 96% fue posible caracterizar al menos un reordenamiento de Ig/TCR. El total de reordenamientos clonales detectados fue de 1550. La ERM pudo ser estudiada en forma exitosa en el 89% de los casos. El valor de ERM positiva combinada al día 33 y 78 de tratamiento, permitió identificar pacientes de alto riesgo, entre los previamente estratificados por la ERM mediante CFM al día 15. La comparación entre la determinación de ERM mediante reordenamientos Ig/TCR y CFM mostró una excelente correlación. El presente trabajo constituye un estudio de ERM mediante Ig/TCR realizado en un número muy significativo de pacientes diagnosticados en forma consecutiva, tratados en el marco de un protocolo homogéneo y con excelente seguimiento clínico.

Abstract Acute leukemias are the most common neoplasm in pediatric patients. Currently, 80% of children with diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are cured with conventional chemotherapy, but 20% of them will have a recurrence of the disease. Measurable Residual Disease (MRD) has been described as an important prognostic factor that allows evaluating the response of patients to treatment. One of the most sensitive techniques to study MRD is the quantification of immunoglobulins (Ig) and T-lymphocyte receptors (TCR) genes rearrangements. The aims of this study were to describe the detected Ig/TCR rearrangements, to evaluate the prognostic impact of MRD in our population of children with ALL and to compare the MRD values by Ig/TCR with those obtained by multiparametric flow cytometry (MFC). A total of 455 patients were studied. In 96% of the cases, it was possible to characterize at least one Ig/TCR rearrangement. The total number of Ig/TCR rear rangements detected was 1550. MRD was successfully applied in 89% of the cases. The combined positive MRD values at day 33 and 78 of treatment allow the identification of high-risk patients in cases previously stratified by MRD using flow cytometry at day 15. The comparison between MRD determination by Ig/TCR rearrangements and FC showed excellent correlation. The present work constitutes a study of MRD by Ig/TCR carried out in a very significant number of patients consecutively diagnosed, treated within a homogeneous protocol and with excellent clinical follow-up.

T cell receptor excision circles as a tool for evaluating thymic function in young children

The thymus is a primary lymphoid organ responsible for the maturation of T cells as well as the immunological central tolerance. It is in the antenatal period and infancy that it plays its major role. In clinical practice, T cell receptor excision circles (TRECs) are considered a direct and reliable measure of the thymic function. TRECs are a by-product of DNA formation in gene rearrangement of T cell receptors. They are stable and they do not duplicate during mitosis, representing the recent emigrant T cells from the thymus. Despite their importance, TRECs have been neglected by physicians and there is a lack of data regarding thymic function during infancy of healthy children. In order to evaluate thymic function in the first years of life, we propose measuring TRECs as a valuable tool. One hundred and three blood samples from children and adolescents between 3 months and 20 years of age were analyzed. The mean TRECs count was 136.77±96.7 copies of TRECs/μL of DNA. The individuals between 0 and 5 years of age had significantly higher TRECs values than those between 10 and 20 years of age. No significant difference was observed in TRECs values among age groups below 5 years of age. An inverse correlation between TRECs and age was found (r=0.3 P=0.003). These data highlight and validate the evidence of decreased thymus function with age, even during infancy. Awareness should be raised with this important albeit ignored organ.

Significance of clonal TCR gene rearrangement in acquired pure red cell aplastic anemia / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the significance of T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) gene rearrangement among patients with acquired pure red cell aplastic anemia (A-PRCA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>For 16 patients with A-PRCA, an immunosuppressive regimen based on cyclosporin A (CsA) was applied. Rearrangement of the TCR gene was detected by PCR, and T lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood specimens was detected with flow cytometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Five patients had presented with TCR clonal rearrangement and were positive for both TCR γ and TCR δ. The blood of 13 patients have returned to normal with the treatment, which included 3 cases with bone marrow returning to normal. In 7 cases, the red cell hyperplasia of bone marrow is still down, but has increased with the treatment. Three patients were close to cure, 7 showed remission, 3 were improved, but 3 were ineffective. The rate of effective treatment in those with TCR rearrangement (2/5) was significantly lower than that those without (11/11, chi-square=8.123, P < 0.05). Compared with those without the TCR gene rearrangement, the Th cells and proportion of Th/Ts were significantly lower, while the Ts cell (CD3+CD8+) were significantly higher in those with the rearrangement (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TCR gene rearrangement may play a role in the pathogenesis of A-PRCA. CsA is effective for the treatment of A-PRCA, but patients presenting clonal TCR gene rearrangement may response poorly to the treatment.</p>

First Report on Familial Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis with an Abnormal Immunophenotype and T Cell Monoclonality in Korea

No abstract available.

Significance of BIOMED-2 standardized IG/TCR gene rearrangement detection in paraffin-embedded section in lymphoma diagnosis / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the feasibility of detecting lymphoma with the application of BIOMED-2 standardized immunoglobulin/T cell receptor (IG/TCR) gene rearrangement system in formalin fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples, and to discuss the relationship between the longest amplification fragment of extracted DNA and positive detection rate of different IGH V-J primers.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>DNA was extracted from 50 cases of FFPE tissue samples. Multiplex-PCR amplifications were performed and then the IG/TCR gene rearrangements were analyzed using BIOMED-2 standardized clonality analysis system.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1)When the DNA concentration was diluted to 50-100 ng/μl from 100-500 ng/μl, the proportion of the longest amplification fragment (300-400 bp) of DNA was improved from 10.0% to 90.0% in 30 cases of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) wax roll samples (P<0.01). The positive rate of IGH+IGK was increased from 46.7% to 83.3%, the difference was statistically significant (P=0.006). The lengths of the longest amplification fragments of DNA were all longer than 300 bp in the paraffin section samples of DLBCL. The positive rate of IGH+IGK of these samples was 96.7%. The difference of the positive rate of IGH+IGK between the wax roll samples and the paraffin section samples had no statistical significance (P=0.195). (2)When the concentration of DNA was high, most of the longest amplification fragments of extracted DNA were 100 bp or 200 bp, and the detection rate of short fragment IGH FR3 was more stable than that of long fragment IGH FR1. (3)The clonality analysis of TCRG+TCRB in all 13 cases of peripheral T cell lymphoma samples showed positive results, while no positive IG/TCR clones were found in 7 cases of reactive lymphoid tissue hyperplasia in control group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Dilution of DNA is the only method to improve not only the proportion of longest fragment amplification but also the detection rate of clonality. The detection rate of IGH FR3 would not be affected by the concentration of DNA. The application of BIOMED-2 standardized IG/TCR gene rearrangement system in FFPE tissue samples plays an important role in the lymphoma diagnosis.</p>

Age estimation using content of sjTREC in human peripheral blood / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To determine and verify the correlation formula of age estimation using the content of signal joint T-cell receptor excision DNA circle (sjTREC) in human peripheral blood and to discuss its application value in forensic biological practice.@*METHODS@#The samples of peripheral blood stains were collected from 30 healthy unrelated individuals whose ages were known. The DNAs were extracted from the samples stored at room temperature after 4 weeks. The content of sjTREC was measured by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR technique, and the TATA box binding protein (TBP) was selected as reference genes. The age of each sample was predicted with the formula which was Age = -7.181 5 Y-42.458 +/- 9.42 (Y = dCtTBP-sjTREC), and the result was compared with the real age of each individual to determine the accuracy of the formula.@*RESULTS@#sjTREC and TBP gene were detectable in all 30 samples of peripheral blood. The contents of sjTREC in human peripheral blood showed a decreasing tendency with aging. The accuracy rate for the age estimation by this method was 76.67%.@*CONCLUSION@#The method for the age estimation with the content of sjTREC was simple, fast, sensitive, and good species specific with important potential application prospect.

Clinical significance of dynamic monitoring of thymic recent output function in different stages of treatment in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect the changes of naive T cell level of thymic recent output at different stages of treatment in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), thereby to evaluate the relationship of thymic recent output function with prognosis and the impact of chemotherapy on the potential of immunological recovery.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The levels of T-cell receptor rearrangement excision circles (TREC) in DNA of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) from 30 DLBCL patients were monitored before, during, until 3 months and 6 months after chemotherapy by real-time PCR (TaqMan), and TREC-level was detected according to the number of CD3 positive(CD3(+)) cells. Twelve normal individuals who matched in age were served as controls.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was a dramatic reduction of TREC values in all DLBCL patients among which TREC values in germinal center B-cell-like-DLBCL (GCB-DLBCL) were higher than those in non-GCB-DLBCL, as compared with TREC values of normal individual in peripheral blood. The mean values of TREC were 0.91 ± 0.15/1000 PBMNCs and (1.22 ± 0.69)/1000 CD3(+) cells in GCB-DLBCL, (0.43 ± 0.29)/1000 PBMNCs and (0.64 ± 0.44)/1000 CD3(+) cells in non-GCB-DLBCL before chemotherapy. TREC values were significantly associated with lower international prognostic index (IPI) grade (r = -0.441, P = 0.015). TREC-level in DLBCL patients was further decreased after chemotherapy, and reached to the lowest level after the 6th cycle of chemotherapy, and during the corresponding period, the mean values of TREC were (0.63 ± 0.34)/1000 PBMNCs and (0.89 ± 0.65)/1000 CD3(+)cells in GCB-DLBCL, (0.19 ± 0.11)/1000 PBMNCs and (0.27 ± 0.25)/1000 CD3(+) cells in non-GCB-DLBCL. TREC-level began to rise obviously 3 months after the last cycle of chemotherapy in most of the DLBCL patients, and came close to normal level in five cases of patients 6 months after the last cycle of chemotherapy.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Thymic recent output function was impaired severely in DLBCL patients. There was an important relationship between thymic recent output function before chemotherapy and prognosis, and chemotherapy had influenced the potential of immunological recovery.</p>

Type II enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma: a clinicopathologic study / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the clinicopathologic features, immunohistochemical findings, differential diagnosis and prognosis of type II enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma (EATL).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fourteen cases of type II EATL encountered in Department of Pathology, Nanjing General Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. The clinical data, histologic features, immunohistochemical findings and follow-up information were analyzed, with literature review.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were altogether 12 males and 2 females. The median age of patient was 49 years. The sites of involvement included jejunum (10 cases) and ileum/colon (4 cases). The patients often presented with an abdominal mass, abdominal pain, diarrhea and constitutional symptoms such as fever, night sweating and cachexia. There was no clinical evidence of gluten-sensitive enteropathy. Histologically, the lymphoma cells showed full-thickness infiltration of the intestinal wall. They contained round hyperchromatic nuclei and pale cytoplasm. The stroma was minimally inflamed, with or without associated coagulative necrosis. A remarkable finding was the presence of villous atrophy, cryptal hyperplasia and intraepithelial lymphocytosis. Immunohistochemical study showed that the tumor cells expressed CD3, CD43 and CD8 (14/14). Some of them were also positive for CD56 (11/14) and CD30 (2/14). The staining for CD4, CD20, CD79a and myeloperoxidase was negative. A high proliferation index was demonstrated by Ki-67 immunostain. In-situ hybridization for EBER was negative. Follow-up data were available in 9 cases. The duration of follow-up ranged from 6 months to 36 months. Seven patients died within 14 months.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>EATL is a rare type of lymphoma with intestinal involvement. Associated enteropathy is not demonstrated, in contrast to cases encountered in Nordic countries. A correct diagnosis requires evaluation of clinical manifestations, pathologic features and ancillary study results.</p>

Study of immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor gene rearrangements in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate immunoglobulin (Ig) and T cell receptor (TCR) gene rearrangements in bone marrow or peripheral blood of patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), and to explore the potential clinical significance.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The Ig/TCR gene rearrangements in bone marrow or peripheral blood of 139 NHL patients were analyzed by using BIOMED-2 multiple primers system and Multiplex PCR assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Ig clonality was detected in 85.4% (70/82) of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), including 46.3% (38/82) IgH rearrangement, 62.2% (51/82) IgK rearrangement and 1.2% (1/82) IgL rearrangement, and in 39.4% (13/33) of other categories of B-lineage NHL (B-NHL), including 33.3% (11/33) IgH and 39.4% (13/33) IgK rearrangements. TCR clonality was detected in 50.0% (12/24) of all definite T-lineage NHL (T-NHL), including 8.3% (2/24) TCRB and 45.8% (11/24) TCRG, no TCRD was detected. The detection rate of gene rearrangements of NHL diversed in different clinical stages \[36.4% in early stage (Ann Arbor stage I and II) and 45.6% in late stage (III and IV)\] and in different degrees of malignancy (40.0% indolent NHL and 45.6% aggressive NHL), but no obvious statistical significance was obtained (P > 0.05). The detection rate of bone marrow invasions of NHL (except CLL) with examinations of bone marrow smear under the microscope was 12.3% (7/57), much lower than the clonality testing (43.9%, 25/57) (P < 0.05). Sensitivity test showed that the sensitivity of malignant clonality testing by multiplex PCR was 3.12% - 6.25%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The detection rate of gene rearrangements diverses in different clinical stages and degrees of malignancy of NHL, but the correlation has not been proved in this research. The sensitivity of multiplex PCR-based clonality testing is enhanced with the combination of BIOMED-2 primers system. It is more sensitive than the morphological examinations of bone marrow smear in detecting bone marrow invasions, and may provide a powerful strategy in the routine diagnosis and assessment after treatment.</p>

Clinicopathologic features of gastrointestinal tract involvement of anaplastic large cell lymphoma / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics of gastrointestinal tract involvement of anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinicopathological features of four patients with ALCL that involved gastrointestinal tract were retrospectively analyzed using immunohistochemical study, T-cell receptor gene rearrangement analysis, and evaluation for Epstein Barr virus infection status.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Most tumor cells in all these four cases are large and highly pleomorphic, and all four cases were classified as the common pattern ALCL. Tumor cells in all four tumors expressed CD30, and expressed at least one cytotoxic maker. Two patients were confirmed to be with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive ALCL, and four patients were negative during in situ hybridization for Epstein-Barr virus-encoded RNA but showed clonal T-cell receptor gene rearrangement.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Gastrointestinal tract involvement of ALCL has the unique clinicopathological features.</p>

Detection of antigen-receptor gene rearrangement clonality for diagnosis of lymphoma / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was aimed to investigate the significance of detecting the antigen-receptor gene rearrangement clonality in the diagnosis of lymphoma. Paraffin-embedding and HE staining of samples from 31 patients with lymphomas were performed for morphologic observation by light microscope. Immunophenotype was analyzed by the immunohistochemistry (IHC) method. The clonality of antigen-receptor gene rearrangement was detected by BIOMED-2 Assay Kit. The results showed that among the 31 cases, 12 cases were suspected to be T-cell lymphoma, 1 case was suspected to be T-cell reactive hyperplasia, and 16 cases were suspected to be B-cell lymphoma, 2 cases were B-cell reactive hyperplasia. The detection results showed that the positivity of Ig gene rearrangement clonality was 94.44% (17/18), the positivity of TCR gene rearrangement clonality was 92.31% (12/13), the other two cases were negative. Finally, 12 cases were diagnosed to be T-cell lymphoma and 17 cases were B-cell lymphoma. The other two cases were reactive lymphoid proliferations. And the positivity rate in the 31 patients with lymphomas was 93%. It is concluded that the detection of antigen-receptor gene rearrangement clonality is a useful assistant method in the diagnosis of lymphoma.

Correlation between blood T-cell receptor rearrangement excision circles levels and severe infection in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>This study quantitatively examined signal joint T-cell receptor rearrangement excision circles (sjTRECs) levels in peripheral blood of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) at different stages in order to evaluate the role of sjTRECs in predicting severe infection postchemotherapy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>sjTRECs levels in peripheral blood were measured by fluorescent quantitation-polymerase chain reaction in 30 children with newly diagnosed ALL, 36 children with ALL who accepted chemotherapy but were not infected, 30 children with ALL who had severe infection after chemotherapy, and 50 normal children.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Blood sjTRECs levels in the normal group (394 ± 270 copies/103 MNC) were significantly higher than those in the other three groups (P<0.05). Blood sjTRECs levels in the chemotherapy group without infection (96 ± 78 copies/103 MNC) were significantly lower than those in the newly diagnosed ALL group (210 ± 219 copies/103 MNC) (P<0.05). The chemotherapy group with severe infection showed the lowest blood sjTRECs levels (48 ± 40 copies/103 MNC) in the four groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The measurement of blood sjTRECs levels might be helpful for predicting the occurrence of severe infection postchemotherapy in children with ALL.</p>

Follicular variant of peripheral T-cell lymphoma: a clinicopathologic and genetic study of 2 cases / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the clinicopathologic and genetic features of follicular variant of peripheral T-cell lymphoma (FV-PTCL), with particular attention to the relationship of this type of lymphoma with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data, hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections of lymph node biopsies from 2 FV-PTCL cases were reviewed. Immunohistochemical phenotyping and detection of EBV-encoded RNAs (EBER) through in situ hybridization (ISH) were performed. The EnVision two-step method was used for all antibodies except CXCL13 (by using three-step streptavidin immunoperoxidase method). Analysis of clonality and ITK/SYK gene rearrangement was conducted using PCR and RT-PCR assays, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Clinically, the two patients presented with superficial lymphadenopathy similarly. Histologically, case 1 showed a follicular/nodular lymphoid proliferation without marked germinal centers. The neoplastic cells comprised mainly medium sized cells with abundant, sometimes clear cytoplasms. Similar histologic findings were seen in case 2 in addition to a concurrent component mimicking typical AITL noticed. Of both cases, the neoplastic cells showed positive reactivity to CD3, CD4, CD10, PD1, and CXCL13. Positive hybridization signals for EBER were only seen in case 2, and double stains demonstrated that those EBV-positive cells were mostly the reactive transformed B-cells. Monoclonal T-cell proliferation was proved by the rearranged TCR gene detection in both cases. Neither of the current cases expressed ITK/SYK fusion transcripts.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>FV-PTCL shows the similar or overlapped morphological and immunophenotypic features to those of AITL, possibly suggesting the presence of a potential relationship between these two types of lymphomas.</p>

Gene rearrangement pattern of immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor (Ig/TR) and its clinical characteristics in children with SET-NUP214 fusion gene-positive leukemia/lymphoma / 中国实验血液学杂志

The purpose of this study was to analyze the gene rearrangement pattern of immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor (Ig/TR) and its clinical characteristics in three children with SET-NUP214 fusion gene positive leukemia/lymphoma. The transcript of SET-NUP214 fusion gene was detected by RT-nested PCR. The pattern of Ig/TR gene rearrangement was analyzed by using the BIOMED-2 multiplex PCR assays. Allelic-specific primers were designed for further monitoring the minimal residual disease (MRD). The results indicated that the fusion site located between exon 7 of SET and exon 18 of NUP214 at mRNA level in the three patients. The diagnoses were made as the mixed phenotype of acute leukemia (MPAL) for patients 1, acute T-lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) for patients 2, and stage IV T-lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL) for patients 3, respectively. Patient 1 responded to chemotherapy very poorly and relapsed at month 6 after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Patient 2 had high MRD (> 10(-2)) at the end of inducing remission therapy (day 33) which implied poor outcome, and died of toxic epidermal necrolysis and sequent serious infection. Patient 3 achieved hematological complete remission (CR) and MRD negative at day 15 and day 33 respectively. The duration of CR lasted for 30 months. Clonal TR gene rearrangements were detected in all the three patients. The rearrangements of TRD, TRG and TRB were found in patient 1 and 3. The rearrangements of TRD, TRB, IgH and IgK Kde were detected in patient 2. All the 6 TRB rearrangements detected were incomplete rearrangements, whereas 85.7% and 14.3% of the TRD, and TRG rearrangements were complete and incomplete, respectively. It is concluded that the transformation of SET-NUP214(+) leukemia/lymphoma cells may occur after the rearrangements of TRD and TRG and shortly after TRB rearrangement. The leukemia/lymphoma cells of patient 1 and 2 are more immature which may be related with poor outcome or response to chemotherapy.

Detection of gene rearrangement in bone marrow of patients with non Hodgkin's lymphoma by BIOMED-2 protocols / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was purposed to explore the feasibility of BIOMED-2 protocols for detection of immunoglobin (IG) and T-cell receptor (TCR) gene clonal rearrangement in bone marrow of Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma(NHL) patients, and to evaluate its clinical value. Gene clonal rearrangment (IGH, IGK, IGL, TCRβ, TCRγ, TCRδ) was detected by using BIOMED-2 protocols in 73 bone marrow examples of NHL patients. The PCR results were compared with the cytomorphologic examination of bone marrow. The correlation between PCR detection results and clinical stage, pathological factors were also evaluated. The results showed that clonal IG or TCR gene rearrangements were found in 31 of 73 cases (42.5%), higher than the positive rate of cytological analysis (24.7%, 18/73, p < 0.05). IG/TCR clonality rates were 40.0% (22/55) for B-NHL and 50% (9/18) for T-NHL. IG/TCR clonality rates detected in patients with III/IV stage were higher than those with I/II stage (p < 0.05). It is concluded that BIOMED-2 protocols are effective methods for detection of abnormalities in bone marrow in patients with lymphoma, and are superior to cytomorphologic examination. The positive rate of PCR detection is correlated with Ann Arbor stage, but is not related with malignant degree, age, treatment status, B symptoms or the involvement of spleen.

Clinicopathologic study of 128 cases of T-lymphoblastic lymphoma/leukemia / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To clarify clinical and morphological features and immunophenotype of T lymphoblastic lymphoma/leukaemia (T-LBL/ALL) and to further improve the knowledge and diagnostic accuracy for T-ALL/LBL.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>128 cases of T-LBL/ALL were analyzed for the clinical features, morphology, immunophenotype and TCR gene rearrangement using routine eosin and haematoxylin stain, immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction combining with the clinical findings.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In 128 cases of T-LBL/ALL, there were 94 male and 34 female. The ratio of male/female was 2.8:1. The age of patients ranged from 4 to 88 years, with an average of 27 years and a median of 22 years. Lymph nodes and extranodal areas were involved in 58/128 and 27/128 cases of T-LBL/ALL, respectively. The other 43 cases had involvement of both nodal and extranodal areas. Cervical node and mediastinum were involved in 74 cases and 43 cases, respectively. Diffuse growth pattern of tumor cells was predominant. Nodular growth pattern was seen only in a few cases. Most cases composed of small to medium-sized lymphoblasts, and other 7 cases showed a composition of large lymphoblasts. Tumor cells expressed TdT in 121/128 (94.5%) cases, CD34 in 48/98 (49.0%) cases, CD3 in 78/108 (72.2%) cases, CD7 in 104/108 (96.3%) cases, CD43 in 56/63 (88.9%) cases, CD79a in 5/70 (7.1%) cases, CD10 in 25/76 (32.9%) cases, CD99 in 58/60 (96.7%) cases and Pax-5 in 4/91(4.4%) cases. All of the cases were negative for MPO. A follow up data, ranging from 1 to 53 months, was obtained in 51/128 (39.8%) patients. The over all survival rate was 68.6% and the median survival time was 12 months. Under a similar condition of carrying a positive staining result on CD3 in tumor cells, there was a statistically significant difference between patients in the group of over 30 of age and that with the age ranging from 11 to 30. Patients associating with a CD10 positive staining of tumor cells showed also a shorter survival period. In addition, there were 4 out of 5 cases showing the presence of TCR gene rearrangement.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>T-LBL/ALL are aggressive in behavior, associating mainly with enlarged cervical lymph nodes and masses in the mediastinum, occurring predominantly in children and young adults. Although small to medium-sized tumor cells with diffuse pattern were found in most cases, however, large-sized tumor cells and nodular pattern could also be obtained in a few cases. Immunohistochemistry staining particularly adoption of CD7, Pax-5, TdT, CD34 and Ki-67 stainings in combination are helpful of making a diagnosis for T-LBL/ALL. Analysis of TCR gene rearrangement will be helpful for the diagnosis of a few difficult cases.</p>

Clinicopathologic study of 7 cases of gastric T-cell lymphoma / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the clinicopathologic characteristics of gastric T-cell lymphoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinicopathologic features of 7 cases of gastric T-cell lymphoma were retrospectively reviewed. Immunohistochemical study, T-cell receptor gene rearrangement analysis and evaluation of Epstein Barr virus (EBV) status were also performed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The median age at onset of gastric T-cell lymphoma was 45 years. The male-to-female ratio was 6 to 1. The clinical information was available in 6 cases; and one of them had history of persistent diarrhea and 5 had hypoproteinemia. Histologically, 5 cases consisted of large lymphoma cells and the remaining 2 cases showed mainly medium-sized cells. Intraepithelial lymphoma cell infiltration was found in one case. The lymphoma cells of all cases were negative for CD20 and CD79a. CD3 and TIA-1 expression was noted in 6 of the 7 cases. CD5, βF-1 and CD30 were positive in 4 cases and CD4 was positive in 3 cases. In-situ hybridization for Epstein-Barr virus-encoded RNA was negative. Clonal T-cell receptor gene rearrangement was demonstrated in all cases.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Gastric T-cell lymphoma is a rare type of malignant lymphoma, with distinctive clinicopathologic characteristics.</p>

Tandem application of flow cytometry and polymerase chain reaction for choice targets of minimal residual disease in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Minimal residual disease (MRD) is one of the most important prognostic factors in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Flow cytometry and PCR are two common techniques for examining MRD in ALL. This study aimed to identify MRD targets by tandem application of both techniques in children with ALL.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From September 2001 to October 2003, 126 children with newly diagnosed ALL were enrolled on the treatment protocol ALL-XH-99. Tandem application of flow cytometry and PCR was performed to identify MRD targets in these patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>1. Using sets of combined antibodies, immunophenotypic expression of leukemia cells was observed in 95 of 106 B-lineage ALL cases (89.6%). Only one aberrant immunophenotype was observed in 11 cases (11.6%) and most patients with B-lineage ALL (88.4%) expressed at least two suitable targets. 2. Using PCR technique, T-cell receptor (TCR) or immunoglobulin gene rearrangements were identified in 26 of 27 patients (96.3%). Two or more monoclonal/ bi-allelic gene rearrangements were identified in 17 cases (65.4%). The majority (70%) of T-lineage ALL cases contained TCRVgammaI-Jgamma1.3/2.3. Cross-lineage TCR rearrangements were found in 57.1% of cases with B-lineage ALL. 3. Suitable MRD targets of immunophenotypic abnormalities or antigen receptor gene rearrangements were detected in 121 patients (96.0%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>MRD targets were identified using tandem application of flow cytometry and PCR in almost of children with ALL. Cross-lineage TCR rearrangements and bi-allelic gene rearrangements were observed in many patients.</p>

Clinicopathologic features of peripheral T-cell lymphoma, unspecified with follicular pattern / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the clinicopathologic features of peripheral T-cell lymphoma, unspecified (PTL-U) with follicular pattern.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data, hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections of lymph node biopsies and follow-up data of 18 cases of PTL-U associated with follicular growth pattern were reviewed and studied. Eight cases of reactive lymphoid hyperplasia were used as controls. Semi-quantitative observation by retiform micrometer rule was carried out. Immunohistochemical study was also performed in all cases. T-cell receptor and immunoglobulin heavy chain gene rearrangement studies were conducted by polymerase chain reaction-based method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The median age of the patients was 53 years. The male-to-female ratio was 1.57:1 in lymphoma group. All of the lymphoma patients presented with superficial lymphadenopathy, with (8/18) or without B symptoms. Histologically, the lymphoma was characterized by follicles of various sizes and shapes. The T zones were expanded by medium-sized lymphoma cells which contained clear cytoplasm and irregular nuclei. Mitotic figures were commonly identified. Immunohistochemical study confirmed that the lymphoma cells were of T-lineage. The proliferative index, as highlighted by Ki-67, was higher [average = (38.24 +/- 13.42)%/mm2] than that in the control group. T-cell receptor gene rearrangement was demonstrated in 71.4% (10/14) of the lymphoma cases.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>A definitive diagnosis of PTL-U with follicular pattern can be made on the basis of morphologic examination, immunohistochemical assessment and clinical features. Cases with atypical features can further be delineated by molecular analysis. Long-term follow up of these patients is prudent.</p>